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Archive for August 30th, 2009

Words as Art (Syrian Calligrapher)

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

Maryam of My Marrakesh has posted (in her lovely, lyrical/artful way) about Khaled Al Saai, an incredibly gifted/artful Syrian calligrapher. This is no ordinary calligraphy. (And since when has calligraphy ever been ordinary?)

There is one photo of a mural in an art gallery, colorful swirling words beyond one glance of the eyes. There are many other photos. Please check it out:

Khaled Al Saai: a tale of a Syrian Calligrapher

A Day Solo

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

I have chosen to spend my day alone in silence. Brian is on a long bike ride, as he loves to do on days off. I will drink tea, work in the house, do whatever it is I choose to do for my business. This is good for both Brian and me, some time to ponder the moment for a while.

(The photo is a cup of tea I had in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at my friend Altu’s mother’s home… pure joy, great tea with love in it.)

My voice can use some rest. We have had many performances and I have been teaching a lot. There are few days when I can just be alone and be quiet.

Balance is Essential

Those who know me socially, may not realize that I have a quiet side. In public, I bubble to life. I enjoy all people and notice joy in every color and every child’s smile. Without the structure of a classroom or stage, I talk too much, too loud, too quickly. Joy is a real part of my being, and it can be electric if you are me.

In order to balance, I need to be alone at times. Lately I have had little solo time. Today is the day. I will bake (this I have been avoiding, it makes a mess I don’t enjoy cleaning up). I will make a crockpot of soup, probably split pea. I will go for a long walk with my knitting and a camera.

Pondering the Art of Words

Quiet days enhance some things. Today I accidentally came across a poem and it made me smile. I decided to look up a poem (a different one) to share with you. Remember, ColorJoy is about recognizing the art in all things. Words can be art, and perhaps most when they are poetry.

This came from a book called Miracles, a book from the 1960’s still available on the used market. Some wise person collected poetry from children. Many were so young, they required an adult to take dictation. I’m grateful that those adults sat still and listened.

The children are grown now. I have shown this poem here before, and the person who wrote it sent me a little note. Very cool.

May you have a lovely day. Perhaps you can make yourself a cup of tea, as I have, and join me in the joy contained in the artform that is carefully-chosen words.

Grownups
©1968 by Marc Duskin
Age 10
United States

From the Book:
Miracles, Poems by children of the English-speaking world
Collected by Richard Lewis
Simon and Schuster, 1966

Grownups are silly,
They never drink coffee
When it’s served
To them.
They just talk
And never drink it
Until it’s cold.
Isn’t that silly?

I haven’t grown
Since I was five
I haven’t grown at all…
Grownups are just getting shorter.

Caspian Sea Sample Sock, Growing

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

My little project from Ethnic Socks and Stockings is growing. Very slowly, but growing.

toe-oopsfinishedonediamond400

Can you see why this delights me so much? This is pure beauty. The sock will fit nobody I know, it is totally a learning experience and a joy in the making.

I have no cultural claim to eastern-style anything. My brother, the genealogist in our family, says my family-tree traced heritage comes mostly from Norway and Sweden, plus a few places in the UK.

However, I was born for colorful anything. My first memory at age 2, was of a blue and yellow toy I was denied at the home of friends. It wasn’t the denial that made me remember, but the beauty of the colors in concentric rings.

This sock is not denying me anything. I can not knit it when in a group of people, which is where I do the bulk of my knitting. Instead, this is pushing me toward a little quiet knitting time at home. This is good for me.

Off to knit a little bit more…